First Corinthians 12 Part 2 Apostolic Litmus Test To Separate truth From Error

Misuse of spiritual gifts is connected with ignorance of God's Word.

1 Corinthians 12:1-2  Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. 2)  Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. 

In our last post we set the context for Paul's rebuke and corrections connected with how the Corinthians misused spiritual gifts.

We pointed out how rituals of pagan idolatry were geared to stimulate and satisfy fleshly lusts.

We noted how their religious activities involved achieving mindless ecstasy. 

Why so? Because the Corinthians were swept up and seduced by immorality and emotional responses without engaging their minds.

Pagan ideas corrupted their thinking about marriage, moral issues, and a host of other things addressed by the apostle.

Therefore, Paul is going to make known to the Corinthians the truth that they are ignorant of. 

An apostolic litmus test to determine if the Spirit of God is speaking or not. 

1 Corinthians 12:3  Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. 

From the context of what Paul has said about spiritual gifts, he is giving us a way to discern if it is the Holy Spirit of God speaking or if it is another spirit not of God.

Paul gives a test to show whether or not a man or woman or young person has truly been born again.

When a sinner is regenerated and indwelt by God's Spirit, that person will never speak of Jesus Christ as accursed. 

And, only a person with a new heart and new spirit from God can truly call Jesus Christ Lord of lords and King of kings.

Thus, those who have the Spirit of God in their heart will never blaspheme or call Christ accursed. 

Those in whom the Holy Spirit lives will publicly declare or confess with their mouths a clear faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God (See Romans 10:8-11).

Mark 9:38-41  And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbade him, because he followeth not us. 39)  But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. 40)  For he that is not against us is on our part. 41)  For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward. 

Jesus' disciples saw a man casting out devils in the name of Jesus Christ and they stopped him from doing so. 

Satan and his devils were overtly active during the earthly ministry of Christ and during early church history.

Jesus' reply connects with what Paul is saying to us. 

In the context of His kingdom ministry on earth, Jesus said that no one can do a miracle like casting out devils and say anything evil about our Lord.

Matthew 16:15-17  He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16)  And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17)  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 

Jesus asked His disciples whom they thought He was. Peter answered for the whole group and made a sublime declaration of truth.

Peter said Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus told Peter that this vital truth was revealed to him by the Father in heaven.

This is the same manner that the Spirit of God leads a believer in Christ to declare that Jesus is Lord, King, Master and God manifest in the flesh. 

The Jewish religious leaders called Jesus accursed and blasphemed. 

Luke 23:1-5  And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate. 2)  And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King. 3)  And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it. 4)  Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man. 5)  And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place. 

Most Jewish religious leaders blasphemed Jesus Christ and rejected Him as their Messiah. 

The Jews spoke many false and cruel things about Jesus as all four gospels record and using Paul's litmus test, this indicates that the Spirit of God was not in them. 

Roman soldiers called Jesus accursed and mocked Him with great scorn.

Matthew 27:27-31  Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. 28)  And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. 29)  And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! 30)  And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. 31)  And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.

Roman soldiers mocked and ridiculed Christ as they physically beat Him. Others spit upon the Lord and cast many vile words against Jesus. 

Using Paul's litmus test, these Gentile soldiers did not speak by the Spirit of God. 

We must test the spirits because the spirit of antichrist is in the world. 

1 John 4:1-3  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2)  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3)  And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

The Greek word translated "try" is a metallurgical term. It has to do with testing metals with heat to determine their purity and value. 

How do we test or try the spirits that claim to be speaking for God? Every Spirit that confesses Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God. 

This connects with Paul telling us that God was manifest in the flesh in the Person of Jesus Christ (See 1 Timothy 3:16).

Thus, all the apostles tell us that the scripture is the means for testing or proving if the Spirit of God is speaking or not. 

Remember, there were many temporary gifts of the Spirit that stopped when the New Testament revelation was complete.

This is why Paul gave us such a strong litmus test. We must compare what a person claims is the Holy Spirit speaking through them, with what God actually says in His Word. 

This test is still relevant today, for many televangelists and faith healers claim to be anointed by the Spirit of God. 

Yet, when you compare what they tell their viewers to do with what God says in His Word, they do not match.

For example, some of these false teachers will say "God just wants you to be happy" or "God wants you to be rich and prosperous."  

Yet, their standard definition of happiness is becoming wealthy, staying healthy, experiencing all that the world has to offer and having more possessions. 

What many of these men and women say does not square with what God says in His Word. 

They claim to be speaking for God by His Spirit, but their teaching is contradicted and rebuked by the Spirit inspired scriptures.

This is why God put many litmus tests in the scriptures, so that we can discern if the Spirit of God is speaking or not. 

A happy man loves God's law and walks in His ways. 

Psalm 1:1-3  Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2)  But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3)  And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 

What does God say in His Word? The Hebrew word translated "blessed" means happiness and it is plural in form, meaning experiencing much happiness.

A blessed or happy man does not do the evil things that ungodly people do. He does not follow the latest trends promoted by a corrupt culture. He does not allow corrupt communication to come out of his mouth. 

Instead, a blessed or happy man loves God's holy law. He takes great delight and finds great satisfaction in studying the scriptures. He seeks to walk in the ways of God as marked out in His Word. 

He does not love the world or the things of the world (See 1 John 2:15-17). 

He does not spend all his time and energy seeking to become wealthy, have more possessions or find happiness in experiences offered by a depraved culture.

Many people claim to be speaking for God today but the reality is God gave us His Word in its full and complete form.

We must compare what people claim is God speaking through them with what God actually says in scripture. 

If there is any conflict between the two then our loyalty is to God's Word, not to a false prophet who claims to have revelation from God.

May these truth serve as an anchor to our soul.

May we read, study and learn God's Word with more passion and diligence than ever before.

May we be grounded in our faith so that we are not blown around by every wind of false doctrine.

Bob